Gumby's Gossip - Northam 1st October

Gary Wright | Country Racing | Sat 1 October, 2011

GUMBYS GOSSIP- Northam- 1st October

Off to Northam today for a rare Saturday meeting in the Avon Valley brought about by the Grand Final, its quite a good meeting highlighted by the Ladies Day Cup over 1300metres, one of the highlights of the Northam season.

Race 1- Fashion Fun Fillies & Football Maiden- 1000metres

Quite an open affair to start the day over the short 1000metre journey, and on the basis of a good barrier draw in a large field will opt for Deejar to break through here. He has run some good races at his last few starts, and third up from a spell might just get home first in this. He does have what appears to be an advantageous draw on his main rivals here from the inside barrier and provided he can hold up from there looms as a good each way chance to start the day well for Shaun O'Donnell. Spanish Madam comes into this on the back of an impressive trial win and looms as an early winner for the Price stable, and appears to be the main danger, with Paris Edition and Stellar Enterprise also good chances in this opening event.
Numbers- 3-16-10-11

Suggested Bet- 3- Deejar- Each Way

Race 2- 96fm Perth'S Best Music Maiden- 1100metres

Pure Adrenalin gets its chance to break his maiden status today after a nice first up third at Belmont on Sept21st. This horse started at only each way odds in the Magic Millions Classic earlier in the year which is a pointer to him having plenty of ability. Is drawn nicely at the 1100metre start for Brad Parnham, and look for a good showing from this Canny Lad colt in this race. True Gold may be a good each way prospect on the strength of his trail win on Sept19th, and if it can overcome a wide draw may prove the main danger. Sweet Apparition ran a nice first up 4th to Mendicity at Belmont at her first race start but also has a wide draw to overcome, with Peggy's Girl also in this race with good claims following some reasonable Belmont form.
Numbers- 1-9-11-12

Suggested Bet- 1- Pure Adrenalin- Win

Race 3- Retravision Northam Maiden- 1400metres

After seven starts Rock Bar appears nicely placed to salute the judge in this race, he has very consistent form going back to Ascot last summer, and has finished 3rd, 4th and 2nd at his three starts this campaign all here at Northam. Ideally drawn in barrier four for regular jockey Jason Whiting and he certainly ticks a lot of the boxes here, so will opt for him to get home first in this race, although I wouldn't be taking skinny odds about him that may be on offer. The addition of blinkers here will hopefully do the trick though. Classic Knowledge will also be a major player here on the strength of his last two starts at his home track, but he is yet to win after 13 starts so tread warily, with Ambers Kingdom an interesting first up runner as well, should be coming home well, but will obviously go better as the distances increase this campaign, he did run fourth in the Melvista last Autumn and started in the WATC Derby also, so has ability. Errand Boy may be best of the remainder here.

Numbers- 2-3-1-4

Suggested Bet- 2- Rock Bar- Win

Race 4- Zig Zag Fashion Boutique Maiden- 1400metres

This is probably a race of few chances but hard to pinpoint which of them will actually win this race. On an each way basis will opt for Verdello Blue, hoping he can overcome the wide draw and build on the back of his last three starts at this track which have resulted being the runner up on each occasion. Thinking Thunder is worth thinking about after running a couple of placings up at Kalgoorlie recently, with a fourth here to Kim Ability sandwiched between those runs, and the services of William Pike will do it no harm at all. Foxatori is also a good chance here, however is coming back 600metres in distance from his last run, so a query there. Ragnarok has also looked promising for the Durrant stable and comes well into calculations here also.

Numbers- 3-2-1-5

Suggested Bet- 3- Verdello Blue- Each Way

Race 5- Avon Valley Gazette Handicap- 1400metres

Mr De Valera ran some good races last campaign, and will hopefully be improved by the first up outing at Belmont Park on 21st Sept, and ready to run a very forward race here today for the Brendon Fitzgerald stable. In what is an open affair he just appears to have his nose ahead of the rest of them here if running up to his form earlier this year. I quite like Henry the Pharoah's chances here on the strength of his great record at the Northam track and he will start at nice each way odds also, and could be right in the finish if pilot Peter Black can get him into the field from a wide draw. Home Front may also improve on his recent form in this race, down in class from his last few outings, with recent Northam winner Metro Master, and Dark Vision also coming into calculations.
Numbers- 2-7-1-4

Suggested Bet- 2- Mr De Valera, 7- Henry The Pharoah - Each Way

Race 6- Northam Toyota Handicap- 1300metres

A good race with some up and coming horses going around in this and will stick with Crash Hot on the back of his last start breakthrough at the Kalgoorlie round, coming off the back of some very promising previous runs throughout the autumn. Nicely drawn for William Pike, he looks a nice each way bet in this event. Prince Kodiak and Hi Kilmore have both been in impressive form lately, both horses running very similar races in this campaign, having recently broke their maiden status and then continuing on with nice consistent form, so both deserve to be good quaddie chances in this first leg, possibly the better draw puts Prince Kodiak slightly ahead as the second selection here. King of Duketon is probably the best of the rest here in a what is a good class one handicap.
Numbers- 6-2-1-5

Suggested Bet- 6- Crash Hot- Win

Race 7- Gannon's Ladies Day Cup- 1300metres

The feature event of the day, and a mainstay of the Northam season here which highlights ladies day, open to fillies amd mares and has attracted a pretty good field. Will go with Undercover Lizzy to continue her good form and take out the main prize here. This Bletchley Park mare has been racing superbly lately for Adam Durrant with a victory and a good second to Bontiara at her last two starts, she looks to be the main player in this event. It is her first look at the Avon Valley track but the same can be said for most of the big chances in this race, so we will discount that factor and tip her on top here from stablemate Like Wildfire, who has shown plenty of promise in her 17 start career, and has the Pike factor to boot. She will no doubt be improved after her first up run behind Lee Rani at Belmont early in September. Terminado has also been running some good races at Belmont and with the 3kg claim for Renee Forrest, will come into calculations here, along with Melody Lady who may prove the best of the rest.
Numbers- 4-3-7-5

Suggested Bet- 4- Undercover Lizzy- Win

Race 8- Jacob's Creek Handicap- 1600metres

This race is a pretty open affair, and will lean towards Central Park here at what might be nice each way odds. His last three starts have been pretty good, all at this track as well, and maybe the small weight advantage over his main rivals may be the difference in the end. Amelia Storm looms as an obvious danger on the back of a last start second in a stronger race at Kalgoorlie and is nicely drawn for Shaun Meeres in this race. Friar's Touch has drawn wide, although the 1600metre start is a little more forgiving than most at this track, and will carry 58kgs with the claim for apprentice Renee Forrest in this, so must also come into calculations. Dream Theatre also raced well up at Kalgoorlie, and if you forgive a last start blemish may come into this race with good hopes as well.
Numbers- 5-2-1-6

Suggested Bet- 5- Central Park- Each Way

Race 9- www.gannons.com Handicap

A very good race to end a good days racing here, and I think we can get out with War Gun in this race in what is a nice pick up ride for Troy Turner replacing the suspended Paul Harvey. This Bletchley Park gelding was most impressive last Sunday in winning here and boasts a very good record at this track also, being in the money at all previous four starts here, and has the inside barrier to boot. As long as Turner can keep her in a good position in running, and the cutaway rail may also come into play here if she does get bottled up, I think he can get home for punters in the last event. Master Force looms as a danger also, he came back well from a spell with a nice second at Kalgoorlie recently, and has a good second up record. Doctor Dash has an impeccable record here, but with barrier 13 in this race he may be caught covering extra ground and may do his dash in the end because of it. Wonder Weed may also come into calculations for the quartet punters in this last event.
Numbers- 5-3-1-9

Suggested Bet- 5- War Gun- Win

Best Bets- Race 2 No 1 Pure Adrenalin
Race 9 No 5 War Gun